From Sol Invictus

Book02: Island of the Aalorai

< Markuran's Tomb | Sol Invictus Logs | Markuran's Tomb Revisited >

Summary: Birds and Cerin continue their scouting.

XP:C1, Z1

Tags:
Aalorai, Herons, Reaver

Cerin and Birds are down one of the strange tunnels on the Island of the Aalorai, surrounded by strange essence spheres, embedded into the rock..

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I'm not good at disappearing. You may need to do that on your own."

An hour passes uneventfully, with no sign of the strange beasts. Just as hope seems to be dwindling, however, a single metallic form gracefully swoops down from the skies and alights upon the lip of a nearby tunnel.

It continues down for perhaps one hundred yards before stopping, suddenly. From around the corner of a bend in the tunnel, Cerin can just make out its actions -- it seems to examine the wall in the tunnel for some time, tapping and looking closely at various spots, before selecting one.

It reaches three of its claws forward, suffusing each with Essence -- and they pass directly through the rockface. After a second it draws them back out, each clutching firmly a single, perfect sphere of steel. It looks down to examine them, and takes a moment to stroke them -- almost affectionately -- before turning to depart once again.

The aalorai moves back up the tunnel at a fairly leisurely pace, allowing Cerin to easily keep ahead of it.

There are several convenient rocks and piles of debris to duck behind.

The scratching, clinking noise of the aalorai grows nearer.

<Cerin?> "If we're going to fight, we go into the tunnels"

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I was afraid that you would say that.

<Cerin?> "It has 3 of the sphere things. I'm not sure if we could detach them on our own" he continues in the whisper

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "We should try and subdue it..."

As they round a curve near the mouth of the tunnel, the two Solars find themselves face to face with the aalorai. Its eyes flash deep red as it sees them, and it pauses for a moment, entirely unmoving; then, it tosses the three spears into the air, and each of its six hands reach up to its wings; each draws out a single, viciously sharp feather.

With a blur, the aalorai's arms swing into motion, swinging the feathers to block Birds' strikes -- but in vain; the Solar is simply swifter.

The gashes left in the beast's metal chest by Birds' weapon seem to glow a faint red, as if the Essence within is escaping out by the moment.

The beast's swift, spinning motions seek to deflect the bolts, but to no avail. One strikes it directly upon the forehead, and the others batter into its chest with incredible force -- it slams up against one wall of the tunnel, and collapses.

<Cerin?> "where too now? back home? or should we try to explore more?" he whispers

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "It'll probably be a little inconvenient to sneak around with a prisoner in tow. Is there somewhere closer than home we can stash it?"

<Cerin?> "Through the gates, any gate is close. I'm not sure where we could leave it here..."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> You suppose that it's particularly strong?

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "We could just pile some rocks on it."

<Cerin?> "We cant leave it here though, others might come down."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I suppose you're right. Um, why don't you keep looking around...you're sneakier and all...and I'll go take this guy and find Zahara."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "And maybe a snack."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "Then, we will truimphantly RETREAT!"

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "...oop."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I mean, (retreat)."

The tower stands, far in the air, just as it was when the two left it.

<Cerin?> "Can you get back up there with that thing on your back?"

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "Good question."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I'll be okay."


Later, back at the gate

<Markuran?> "What was so urgent, Cerin?"

<Markuran?> "What is that?" Mark steps forward, hefting his new mace threateningly at the freakish looking creature

<Cerin?> "That is one of the Aalorai"

<Zahara?> "Ah yes, I recognize it from the vision. It looks.. bigger than I thought."

<Cerin?> "This wasnt the biggest one we saw."

<Cerin?> "It was alone. Birds and myself overwhelmed it in seconds, then we withdrew with it"

<Markuran?> "That seems a bit hard to get to. And what if it freezes?"

<Zahara?> "Well it's just through the gates."

<Cerin?> "I'm not sure if we should leave it ..unattended. What if someone else decides to take it, or simply to set it free"

<Cerin?> "I am not so sure now. How long did it take you to make the cages to the north? could you duplicate them here?"

<Cerin?> "..Perhaps the north is best then. I can watch him while you craft more suitable cages closer to home."

<Zahara?> "Then we shall do so. The cage should be unlocked, but here is the key." she takes a small iron key from a pouch in her belt, and presses it into his hand. "Say hello to Herons, if he is there."

<Cerin?> "Of course." he smiles "Speaking of Herons" Cerin calls the egg to his hands, and opens it, handing Zahara two of the three spheres "These are the spheres he spoke of. They seem to be of great import to the Aalorai, such that they had great earthworks to find them, and they were borne by them to a great tower"

<Markuran?> "Call Cerin back, then I'm going to bathe."

<Zahara?> "I think I may need a bath as well, actually."

<Zahara?> "You can make it up to me.." she leads him off to her private bath


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